The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-11-12
BAHAMA TREASURES.
Interesting Experiences of a Scientific
Party from Pennsylvania.


The little party of biologists sent out
bv the University of Pennsylvania to
make Investigations and researches
have returned with abundance of glory
and several boxes. tubs and tanks full
of curious specimens. Tie primary
purpose of the jaunt was to give the
party an opportunity to determine upon
the Bahamas as the site of biological
marine station that the university de-
sires to establish and hopes to have in
existence within three years. 1t already
has considerable fund for that purpose.
The residence of the party during
their stay was at q comfortable house
three miles from Nassau, almost on the
waters edge. They lived in commu-
NIFTY, each member taking charge of the
men in turn. The cost was extremely
modest. The men went to work at
once, taking advantage of such assist
ance rs the people roundabout could
afford A young boatman and diver
named Brown was found to be of great
use, having already served three dis
tinguished naturalists-Prof. Gardner,
who was sent out by the English Gov
ernment; Prof. Weldon, of Cambridge,
and Prof. Brooks, of John Hopkins.
All the party were good swimmers,
S4o9 soon learned to do their own
NolvEhg Each provided himself with IL
crowbar and a water box, small box
with plate-glass bottom. The glass,
quieting the ripples on the surface of
the sea, enabled them to see far down
into the depths, many times to the very
bottom. When any one saw bit OK
rock bearing coral, anemones, sponges,
or other objects that he wished to Sc
cure ne tossed the glass aside, dived
down, and pried the desired specimen
loose with the crowbar and carried it
up under his arm. Practice en-
abled them to stay a long time
under water. Mr. Marshall frequently
remained two minutes submerged. DR..
Dolleys says that any man can re-
main under water considerable time
if he will only simply make up his mind
to do so. There is an intense feeling of
oppression aJ first. but DR.. Dollev says
that it is simply nervousness, and soon
passes away.
Several medicinal plants were secured
and experiments will be made as to
their therapeutic value. Among them
is curious bean that animals are very
fond of eating. At first the. animals
grow fat and sleek. But in about two
weeks their tails and names drop off; in
another week their boots and horns, if
they have horns, 90. Then they
grow weaker and weaker and finally
die of fatty degeneration. But even
to the end they eat the beans with in
finite relish. There are other plants
in the collection that are used by the
natives in the treatment of rheumatism
and dysentery with apparent success.
The doctors are ''bushmen. who have
learned the medicinal qualities of herbs
and roots and trees by tradition.
Governor Blake, for the party. sailed
to the island of Alaco one day and
settled the question as to whether
famingos sit in or stand over their
nests, question about which natural
lists have been in dispute these many
years. DR.. Dolley says Governor
Blake reported that famingos sit in
their nests like other birds. The party
went swimming at night in wonder
full phosph crescent lake. At every
stroke the swimmers created waves of
fire, and when they climbed out upon
their boat their bodies seemed covered
with myriads of flaming sparks. The
sparks, of course, were myriads of
eopepods, the little glowing creatures
that give the appearance of fire to the
surface of the lake.
Some skulls of the Luycayans, tho
original inhabitants of the islands, who
were exterminated within thirty years
after their discovery by Columbus,
were found in cave,-PhiLadeJphid
Times